Traffic stop leads to 5 felony arrestsArkansas State Police arrested five after a traffic stop yielded 76 pounds of marijuana and four pounds of methamphetamine. Melissa Ross, 29, Stefinicia Minton, 18, Roderick Nelson, 39, Svante A. Pernell, 34, and Juan G. Michel, 38, are facing drug trafficking charges after Arkansas State Police stopped the vehicles they were traveling in at approximately 3:43 p.m. on Nov. 9 on U.S. Interstate 40. According to a police report, the officer init...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Student sexually assaultedA former Russellville High School (RHS) student is facing second degree sexual assault charges after he and another student allegedly grabbed and groped a female student in one of the stairwells on campus. Carlos S. Contreras, 19, was arrested after the victim, a 17-year-old female, reported she was touched repeatedly on her breasts and held against her will in the stairwell. The victim identified the suspects to school officials, who contacte...

State police find $1 million worth of meth in tireArkansas State Police recovered over a $1 million in methamphetamine during a traffic stop near the 75-mile marker on I-40. Ernan Orozco and Martin Medina were arrested after the vehicle they were driving was pulled over for speeding. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the officer observed both suspects appeared nervous. The officer obtained consent to search the vehicle and a K-9 officer alerted to the presence of illegal substances. The search res...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Prisons fight opioids with $1,000 injection: Does it work?SHERIDAN, Ill. — U.S. prisons are experimenting with a high-priced monthly injection that could help addicted inmates stay off opioids after they are released, but skeptics question its effectiveness and say the manufacturer has aggressively marketed an unproven drug to corrections officials. A single shot of Vivitrol, given in the buttocks, lasts for four weeks and eliminates the need for the daily doses common with alternatives such as metha...

Woman who says she's Jesus arrested for knife attacksShannon V. Armstrong, 33, was arrested on Monday at Saint Mary's Regional Medical center after allegedly attempting to stab nurses with a pair of scissors in one labor and delivery room of the hospital. According to a report provided by the Russellville Police Department, Armstrong claimed she was Jesus and everything was "OK because the demons were gone." An officer arrived on scene at approximately 7:09 p.m. after 911 received a call concern...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Stop yields over 537 lbs. of marijuanaA traffic stop near the 94 exit ramp on I-40 yielded nearly a million dollars in marijuana on Monday. According to a report provided by the Arkansas State Police, over 537 pounds of marijuana was recovered. Michael Romero, 25, and Margarita Hurtado, 23, who appeared in felony bond hearings on Wednesday inside the Pope County Courthouse, were pulled over at approximately 1:35 p.m. on Monday for crossing over the solid white line, the report sai...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Traffic stop leads to arrestsNatalie V. Oswald, 31, told District Judge Don Bourne she thought she was "just being a good Samaritan" when she agreed to drive for Nikki R. Jackson, 31, on Sunday. Instead, the pair ended up in jail after a traffic stop revealed the vehicle they were driving was reported stolen. "I didn't know the vehicle was stolen," Oswald said. The pair were stopped at approximately 7:44 p.m. on East 16th St. after an officer allegedly observed them trave...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Alleged Waffle House shooter's bond set at $75KDrayton O. McFarlin's, 37, unusual nickname led to his arrest in connection with a shooting that occurred at Waffle House in Russellville on Sunday. McFarlin, who was identified as the shooter by a witness as someone called "Books," appeared in felony bond hearings on Friday inside the Pope County Detention Center. McFarlin was arrested after officers discovered the shooter may have had ties to Conway and inquired with the Conway Police Depart...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Arrest made in Sunday shootingThe Russellville Police Department responded to a shooting at the 2400 Block of North Arkansas Avenue at approximately 5:30 a.m. Sunday. Officers determined a male victim suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was receiving treatment at Saint Mary's Emergency Room. After speaking with witnesses, officers learned the suspect fled eastbound on Interstate 40 in a gray passenger car. Detectives took over the investigation and were able to identif...

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COURIER STAFF REPORTSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man arrested for 'failure to register'William T. Coffren, 55, a level three sex offender, had his bond set at $10,000 on Monday inside the Pope County Detention Center for failing to register as a sex offender. Coffren was convicted of first degree sexual assault on April 14, 1988, and was also arrested on June 24, 2015, for failure to comply with registration. Coffren was most recently arrested on Oct. 28 by the Russellville Police Department (RPD). According to a police report, ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man allegedly makes threat with pistolZachariah D. Kelley, 57, was arrested on Oct. 30 after allegedly threatening to kill a woman with a pistol. The Pope County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) arrived on scene after responding to the area of 257 Stark Road in reference to a disturbance with a weapon. Once on scene, the responding officer made contact with the witness, who said the victim told them Kelley had threatened to kill her with a gun. The officer made contact with the victim and ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Police: Man was going to burn trailerSteven R. Easley, 28, is facing terroristic threatening and attempted arson charges after allegedly attempting to burn down a trailer and threatening a man he believed had slept with his wife. Easley, whose bond was set at $7,500 during felony bond hearings on Monday inside the Pope County Detention Center, was arrested by the Atkins Police Department after an officer responded to a call of an arson in progress at approximately 9:03 p.m. on Oc...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Barefield pleads 'not guilty' to murderTyler J. Barefield, 35, entered a "not guilty" plea to capital murder chargers in Pope County Circuit Court on Monday. Barefield is accused of shooting Aaron Brock, 22, and Beau Dewitt, 22, in September at the U-Pull-It Salvage Yard in Russellville. Formal charges were filed in Pope County Circuit Court on Friday. Charges include two counts of capital murder and a charge of deploying a firearm. Pope County Sheriff Investigator Eric Riggs testi...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSONsimpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Barefield enters plea on murder chargesTyler Barefield, 35, entered a "not guilty" plea to capital murder chargers in Pope County Circuit Court on Monday. Barefield is accused of shooting Aaron Brock, 22, and Beau Dewitt, 22, in September at the U-Pull-It Salvage Yard in Russellville. Look for a full story online later today.

Man allegedly assaults womanTravis D. Eden, 35, broke down crying after District Judge Don Bourne set his bond at $20,000 during Wednesday's felony bond hearings. Eden, who is being held on charges of aggravated assault, apologized to the family of the woman he allegedly struck, choked and threatened with a knife. "Let her family know I'm sorry for my inconvenience," he said. "I will not," Bourne replied, "and you stay away from her." Eden, who initially looked confused ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Police: Man, 60, was assaultedJustin M. Lemmon, 30, was convicted of battery charges just two days before appearing in felony bond hearings facing separate second-degree battery charges. Lemmon said it was all a lie because his victim hoped he would have been sent to prison instead of receiving probation on the previous charge. "That's why he lied on me on this," Lemmon told District Judge Don Bourne during his hearing on Wednesday. "He wanted me to go to prison, but I got...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley